Joint Review: Then Came You by Jill Shalvis (Animal Magnetism #5) plus giveaway

From Goodreads – Veterinary intern Emily can’t believe she wound up in the small town of Sunshine, Idaho, instead of the Los Angeles clinic she had always imagined. Now she has to put her plans to move to L.A. on hold for a whole year while she fulfills the obligation of her vet school scholarship.

Then Wyatt, her gorgeous one-night stand from a Reno vet conference, introduces himself as her new boss. And Emily is just as drawn to his seductive looks and quiet strength as she was on that very steamy night. She soon learns that Wyatt isn’t just a laid-back doctor, but a delicious alpha male tempting her away from her carefully laid-out plans…

———-

Julie: Then Came You is the fifth book in Jill Shalvis’Animal Magnetism series. I am a late comer to this series, having started with the last book, Rumor Has It. Anne loved that book so much I knew I just had to read it. And after reading it I can see why it enchanted her the way it did. I may not have adored it as much as she did but it did draw me in enough to want to continue with the series and to one day go back and read from it the beginning. In this latest installment, we are back at the animal hospital to witness two doctors as they meet “again” and fall in love.

Anne: As Grif would say, “Jill, you never disappoint.” Well, it would be Kate, not Jill, but you get the idea. I get excited every time I know a new Jill Shalvis book is coming out. When I actually get it, I wriggle with joy and I want to read it right away. This series set in a small town, with animals, is wonderful. There is a new vet, Wyatt and a new vet intern, Emily, along with all the other folks I know and love.

I like Wyatt. He lives with his sisters and I find them fascinating. He is caring and giving and strong. I do find it annoying that he won’t express an opinion because he doesn’t want to influence the other person, since he wasn’t given choices when he was young.

Julie: I absolutely loved Wyatt’s relationship with his sisters. Some of my favorite scenes in the book involve him and his sisters even though I did find them eerily similar to Tara and Chloe in Jill’s Lucky Harbor series. But those two women are fantastic characters so to see their ‘twins-of-sort’ in this series was no bother. There is such love and admiration there and it’s all hidden under biting words and snarky remarks. Their scenes together were a lot of fun to read.

I agree with you about Wyatt. As much as I loved Wyatt, and I did really like him, I was also a bit frustrated at times with his incapability of telling people exactly how he feels and what he thinks. Yes, I understand the ‘why’. I know it’s because of his childhood and how his parents carted him around to wherever they felt like going, but c’mon. You’re an adult now. I just thought that by now he would understand how choices are really made and how they really work.

Anne: The private scenes with Emily and Wyatt together are just ridiculous enough; they are funny. They do work well together and treat each other well. I also adore the backdrop of their families.

I understand Emily. Sometimes a person needs to have a somewhat rigid plan to get through hard things in their life. She does what normal, good people do. They do the best they can, make the best of what they have. I do this myself, focus on the tasks and stuff down the emotions. It’s easier to live in your head than your emotions. And sometimes when you feel so strongly after holding it all back for so long, it overflows. Emily can’t stop herself and how she feels about Wyatt. It’s not in her plan. But she IS with him.

Julie: I am also someone who has trouble when “the plan” isn’t followed so I did understand Emily. Sometimes we just need the other person to say specific words to make our feelings real. And when we don’t hear what we need, we don’t have the fuel to change ‘the plan’. I liked Emily a lot. She was so cute! And I too really enjoyed their scenes together.

As much as I really enjoyed Emily and Wyatt, what I did not appreciate was Evan. I didn’t find him necessary to the advancement of the story and often wondered what he was even doing there.

Anne: That whole part of the plot was not needed, other than to give the story something other than a sexy romance, with two people working out their various personal issues with their family and friends in the mix. I guess overall it was maybe a little too real life, in that respect, since there was not huge drama, other than the internal issues both Wyatt and Emily faced. I don’t mean to minimize anyone’s issues but they weren’t life-threatening. They were more like preconceived notions formed as children which they had both outgrown as adults, once the ideas were examined.

Julie: You are exactly right. The whole Evan plot felt like it was thrown in there just to add drama that someone felt the story was missing. But that person wasn’t me and I really felt it did nothing for the story except take time away from Emily and Wyatt. I don’t know why sometimes people think there has to be a ‘big bad’ in every book. Sometimes just the issues inside a hero or heroine’s head are enough of an obstacle for the couple to overcome.

That being said, I don’t feel like every single scene in a book needs to advance the story to be effective. Jill wrote quite a few scenes in this book that did not add to the plot or bring the story forward. What they did do is add a layer to the character the scene featured. I loved this! I felt these scenes could have been seen as ‘slower’ moments in the story but for me, they added so much! They helped make Emily and Wyatt so much more real for me.

Anne: I completely agree. Not every scene needs to advance the plot. It is great to add depth to the characters. OK, I have to say this. There were just a few sentences of Grif and just that made me shiver with pleasure. I’m not sure I will ever get over Grif. A glimpse of him was my favorite part of the book! Ridiculous but I’m that attached to him.

Julie: It’s great that you are still so attached to Grif! It means that Jill did a great job with the hero from the last book. She really does write great heroes and heroines.

Anne: This book was a great addition to the series. It added some new characters to this wonderful little town. It sets up things for possible future couples with people about whom I definitely want to know more. I’m thinking of you, AJ. And any book by Jill has the sweet sexyness and humor which are so satisfying.

4 stars

Julie: I’m with you. Then Came You was a really sweet book. It has a similar vibe to Forever and a Day, my all time favorite Jill Shalvis book, so I was all over that. Jill really does have a knack when it comes to writing this genre. All of her characters feel like people you could easily meet at the grocery store or at work and her stories feel like tellings of events anyone could go through. Her books are relatable with a side of fun and fantasy and Then Came You fits that description perfectly.

4 stars

Giggle worthy quotes –

She surprised him by suddenly seeming hugely relieved at his lack of response. “This is good,” she said, leaning back. “We can’t talk to each other. You know what that means? It means we’re totally unsuited. So all we have to do is not sleep together again, and it’ll be okay.” She glanced over at him. “We can do that, right?”

No, he was pretty sure they couldn’t. His expression must have answered for him.

“Crap,” she said finally. “We’re in big trouble, aren’t we?”

—–

Mr. Professional. She should appreciate the effort. She should replicate his effort. “Where are we going now?”

“Home,” he said, taking her back to his truck, opening the passenger’s door for her. “To bed.”

She went still and assessed her feelings. Her girlie parts were on board. Standing so close to him between the truck and his big, warm, strong body, she gave in. “Okay, good. Maybe just one more time–”

“In our own beds,” he said.

“Oh.” She blew out a breath. Nodded. “I knew that.”

Books in the Animal Magnetism series –
Animal Magnetism
Animal Attraction
Rescue My Heart
Rumor Has It
Then Came You

Penguin is hosting a wonderful giveaway to go along with the release or Then Came You. To enter simply fill out the Rafflecopter ballot below. Good luck!

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I'm Julie and this blog is all about Romance and Urban Fantasy Book Reviews, Author Interviews, Guest Posts, Slices of Life and Silly Stuff Too!

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Rating System

I loved, loved, loved this book! I will definitely read it again and recommend it to anyone who will listen!
5 stars with extra lovin'! Not only am I going to re-read this book and recommended it often, but I will most likely cuddle with it a little too!
I loved this book. I will most likely pick it up again someday.
I truly enjoyed this book while I was reading it, but I don't see myself reading it again.
I was disappointed with this book. It was only okay and I skimmed through a few parts.
I really want to find the person who suggested this book and ask them why they thought reading it would be a valuable way to spend my ME time!